Cigars
How to Purchase Cigars from Cuba
Every cigar aficionado knows that the very best cigars come from Cuba. Unfortunately, buying the best can often be a risky proposition. But many cigar enthusiasts are willing to take the risk to get a taste of the very best. If you’re wondering just how one would get their hands on a box of Cubans, read on. Because of the [...]
How to Pair Cigars and Alcohol
The cigar has long been viewed as a luxury of the rich and powerful. Images of well-to-do men puffing on a stogie and swirling a glass of good brandy have been well documented and memorialized in films and TV. If you are just becoming interested in cigars and would like to relax with a stogie and drink after a long day’s work, here [...]
The Health Risks of Cigar Smoking
We have all heard of the risks associated with smoking cigarettes, but what are the risks of cigar smoking? Are the risks of smoking cigars just as dangerous, or more so? According to the National Cancer Instituted, regular cigar smoking can result in a major health threat. Scientific research has linked cigar smoking with cancers of the [...]
How to Blow Smoke Rings with Your Cigar
Do you yearn to blow smoke rings with your cigar like a pro? Stogie aficionados often speak of the ceremony-like deliberateness of smoking a good cigar. Blowing smoke rings is the mark of a smoker who enjoys the smooth and relaxing effects of smoking. But how do you blow a good smoke ring? Some argue that it cannot be taughtthat it will [...]
Cigar Smoking Etiquette
Smoking cigars may be a great source of pleasure in your life, but the courteous smoker knows that not everyone enjoys the taste (or smell!) of a good Cuban. With the fervor of anti-smoking campaigns still in full swing, the importance of enjoying a good stogie while not offending others cannot be stressed enough. Simply remember that [...]
Tasting the World: Cigar’s From Different Countries
Most everyone is familiar with the much-lauded flavor of Cuban cigars. But how do you know if you’re smoking a Cuban cigar, or a cigar from any other country for that matter? For those new to the world of cigar smoking, you should know that every cigar-producing country has its own unique flavor and character. The soil quality and [...]
How to Spot Fake Cuban Cigars
Everyone knows that Cuban cigars are the most coveted cigars, renown worldwide for their smoothness and rich flavors. Indeed, Cuban cigars are so prized that many illegitimate dealers have been known to sell fake Cubans to unsuspecting cigar smokers. How do you tell if what you have is a fake or the real thing? First, make certain that [...]
Drugstore Cigars: A Good Buy?
The sheer diversity of cigars can be confusing for new smokers. Many new smokers want to know: is it OK to buy cigars from their local drugstore or chain store? What is the quality of these cigars? Can you expect to get good flavor from these cigars? While of course, it’s perfectly OK to purchase these cigars, be aware that these [...]
Cigar Smoking 101
What are the basics of cigar smoking? How do you light a cigar? How do you draw on the cigar properly? Do you inhale? What are the dos and don’ts of cigar smoking? If you have ever pondered any of these questions, read on. Here is a simple and accessible primer designed to help you gain familiarity with the sometimes confusing, [...]
How to Buy Cigars as a Gift
Is there a cigar aficionado on your gift list? Wondering how to choose a decent cigar for a friend or loved one? Even if you know nothing about cigars or choosing a good cigar, just learning a few basics can help you sniff out (sometimes literally) a good cigar to give to a friend. Fortunately, cigars have now entered the mainstream. [...]
4 Tips for Lighting a Cigar
For new smokers, lighting a cigar can seem as daunting as learning to choose a good single. Here are four tips to guide you in lighting a cigar for the first time. 1. Use cedar matches, if possible. If you prefer to use a lighter, make sure it’s butane lighter to avoid strong odors. 2. Warm the open end of the cigar (aka ‘the [...]
Check the Ashtray: Using Ashes to Determine the Quality of Your Cigar
How to tell if your cigar is of the highest quality? Check the ashtraythe ashes left behind can speak volumes about the quality of your cigar. Here a few simple tips to determining the quality of your cigar. First, note how fast your cigar burns. A cigar that seems to burn too quickly or disposes ashes that break apart easily is [...]
Cigars vs. Cigarettes: Which is worse for Your Health?
Most everyone has heard about the health risks of smoking both cigars and cigarettes, and the dangers of secondhand smoke. But which is worse? Do cigar smokers really have the advantage over cigarettes smokers? The answer is much more complicated than anyone ever thought. A Matter of Degree Research from the National Cancer Institute [...]
Choosing the Best Ashtray for Cigar Smoking
Is an ashtray just an ashtray? Unlike regular cigarettes, cigars need their own special space to support their girth and ashes. Many cigar aficionados swear by the pleasures of finding the proper place to hold their cigars and ashes. So what are the characteristics of a good ashtray? First of course, make sure the ashtray you buy is big [...]
Making the Perfect Cut on Your Cigar
How to clip a cigar properly? Although every cigar aficionado has their own proven method, here are some basic guidelines to get you started. First, examine the head, or closed end, of the cigar. This is the part of the cigar that will need to be clipped. Determine where the ‘cap’ is. The cap refers to the part of the cigar [...]
How to Choose the Perfect Single
Wondering how to choose the perfect cigar? If you’re a newcomer to the world of cigar smoking, here are a few tips to choosing the best cigar. First, note the texture of the cigar. Squeeze it gently. Is very soft, or rigid? Ideally, the cigar should give slightly, but not too much. Very gently, squeeze the length of the cigar to [...]
Why Use a Humidor?
If you are not an experienced cigar smoker, you may be wondering why cigar aficionados use humidors. Humidors are used to store and protect cigars so that they are kept at their peak flavor. A humidor works by keeping a cigar at a constant temperature, somewhere between 68 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and about 70-72% humidity. Many cigar [...]
Old vs. New: Choosing the Right Cigar
Are you confused about old cigars versus fresh cigars? What does this mean, exactly? If you’re new to the world of cigar smoking, these terms can be a little perplexing. Basically, know that cigars are never really fresh. That is, you generally can’t purchase a cigar just after it has been produced. Most tobacconists store [...]
Cigars 101: An Overview of Cigars
Cigars have long been associated with the rich and powerful, with relaxation and rich flavor. Cigar aficionados have created a culture around the art of smoking, assembling various theories and accessories to debate and facilitate smoking. Much like wine tasting, cigar smoking has been seen as a diversion of the upper echelons of [...]
A Short History of Cigars and Tobacco
Have you ever wondered where cigars were first produced? It is widely believed that cigars were first produced in Spain. But before cigars became all the rage in Europe, tobacco was needed to make them. Tobacco is indigenous to the Americas, where native peoples have produced it for hundreds of years. It is believed that the Maya of [...]